[NAMM] New Martin & Co. Models

Attendees visiting the legendary acoustic guitar maker’s booth (#5454, Hall B) this week can see Martin Guitar’s new releases, including the CEO-6 CEO’s Choice – the sixth in a series of Special Edition guitars designed and introduced by Christian (Chris) Frederick Martin IV, the sixth generation Martin to head the company since it was formed in 1833.

Available in a highly polished lacquer Natural finish, or in a “tear drop” Sunburst finish at no extra charge, the Martin CEO-6 Special Edition is based on the early “slope shoulder” Dreadnought design, featuring a solid wood Red Spruce “Adirondack” top, a body of East Indian rosewood, black ebony fingerboard and bridge, faux tortoise beveled and polished pickguard and Gold Grover turners. It also includes the Martin Performing Artist neck profile and Fishman F1 Aura Electronics, which makes this acoustic/electric guitar stage ready and perfect for performances with the tone and volume its owner desires.

C. F. Martin & Co. is also introducing the following new, innovative instruments:

• DRS1 Dreadnought – this marks the return of Martin’s Road Series, which was originally introduced in 2001, designed for working and traveling guitarists on a modest budget, who require their instrument to be durable without giving up the quality of its sound. The top, back and sides are crafted of solid sapele and braced for resonance and projection. The DRS1 neck is built with multilaminate Stratabond™ for extra rigidity and durability, and the belly bridge and fingerboard are made of Richlite™ that achieves a similar look to ebony. This model comes equipped with the Fishman Sonitone sound reinforcement system.
• D-18P & D-28P High Performance – these models feature the High Performance Necks found on Martin’s popular Performing Artist series guitars, redesigned to offer a slimmer, faster profile and more comfortable spacing in the first frets and faster action as the player moves up the fingerboard. The bridge spacing has been increased as well to provide more hand comfort when resting on the bridge. Both models are constructed of East Indian rosewood on the back and sides that provides these models with the bass response and tonal projection that makes the D-28 the first choice for acoustic musicians.
• D-45 Authentic – made exactly as the company manufactured the original pre-war D-45 Dreadnoughts, this reproduction features an ebony non-adjustable neck rod, solid pearl inlays, premium bookmatched Brazilian rosewood back, sides and headplate, and Brazilian inlays in the top, rosette, side and back. Perhaps one of the most important authentic features of the 1942 D-45 is the 100% hot hide glue construction. Other authentic features include a beveled faux tortoise pickguard, ivoriod binding on the body, soundhole rosette, fingerboard, headstock, heel cap and end piece, gold tuners and a fossilized ivory bridge pins, long saddle and nut, and finished with the thin nitrocellulose polished lacquer, just like the original. This historically-accurate design replicates the feel, sound, look and essence of a pre-war Martin D-45.
• Grand J-28LSE Baritone – this special guitar, with its “Grand Jumbo Baritone” tone, playability and power is designed for lower tuning but can also be played in standard tunings. As one of the largest Martins ever, it has a scale length of 27.5", 17" wide lower bout, long neck (21 total frets with 15 clear) and deep body. It boasts a back and side crafted to East Indian rosewood joined with a scallop-braced Sitka top. A mahogany neck features the classic diamond volute and square tapered headstock, with a fingerboard and bridge crafted to African black ebony.
• D-1GT and OM-1GT – these two new models are designed with Martin’s legendary tone, craftsmanship and playability with extraordinary value. Both models feature solid sapele spruce backs and sides, a solid Sitka spruce top and are polished to a high gloss. Tonally, the advanced “hybrid” scalloped X-bracing delivers a powerful punch – clear ringing treble and deep bass – unique to Martin’s 1 Series guitars. The D-1GT offers projection and bass response expected of this Dreadnought body, but the OM-1GT Orchestra Model produces a tone that is brighter in the midrange, less deep in the bass and clear articulation in all positions.
• S1 Soprano Ukulele – this uke is crafted of solid genuine mahogany, joined with a dovetail mahogany neck. It features traditional cedar linings and inlaid rosette, rosewood bridge and fingerboard, and bone saddle and nut. It is laid out in soprano dimensions and comes with its own carrying bag.

Last but certainly not least, Martin’s Custom Shop is introducing two new models available only in 2011:

• CS-35–11 – the craftsmanship of this instrument includes a top built of Carpathian Spruce, back (a unique three-piece curvilinear design) and sides of Madagascar Rosewood finished in a polished gloss, and a genuine hand carved Mahogany neck featuring a satin finish. The fingerboard is crafted of black ebony and binding of grained ivoriod.
• CS-21–11 – this custom guitar features an Adirondack Spruce top finished with polished gloss, Madagascar Rosewood sides and a Maple fiber back finished in polished gloss with vintage toner, and a special shape hand carved Mahogany neck finished in satin. The fingerboard is also solid Madagascar Rosewood and Waverly Gold open-geared tuning machines with snakewood knobs.